Identification and Functional Analysis of KH Family Genes Associated with Salt Stress in Rice

Area of Science:

• Plant Molecular Biology
• Genomics
• Abiotic Stress Response

Background:

• Salinity stress is a major threat to crop productivity, causing significant yield losses globally.
• K-homologous (KH) proteins are essential regulators of plant development and responses to environmental challenges.
• A comprehensive understanding of the KH gene family in rice (Oryza sativa) is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a genome-wide identification and functional analysis of the KH gene family in rice.
• To investigate the role of specific OsKH genes, particularly OsKH12, in response to salinity stress.
• To provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in rice.

Main Methods:

• Genome-wide identification of KH genes in rice.
• Phylogenetic analysis of rice and Arabidopsis KH genes.
• In silico tissue expression analysis and qRT-PCR for OsKH gene expression under salt stress.
• CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generate Oskh12-knockout mutants.
• Biochemical assays and stress treatments to evaluate salt tolerance.

Main Results:

• Identified 31 KH genes in the rice genome, classified into three groups based on phylogenetic analysis.
• OsKH genes are constitutively expressed, with eight showing strong responses to salt stress.
• OsKH12 exhibited the most significant downregulation under salt stress and its knockout mutant displayed enhanced salt sensitivity.
• The Oskh12 mutant showed reduced expression of key salt-tolerance genes.

Conclusions:

• The study systematically characterizes the rice KH gene family, revealing its importance in plant development and stress response.
• OsKH12 plays a critical role in rice salinity tolerance.
• These findings offer a theoretical foundation for future research on abiotic stress adaptation in rice.